The Catholic Church has approved the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a prominent 20th-century religious figure whose television broadcasts reached millions of Americans. The formal ceremony designating him as “Blessed Fulton Sheen” is scheduled for September 24, with the main service taking place in St. Louis due to expected attendance in the tens of thousands. Sheen’s tomb in Peoria, Illinois, has become a significant pilgrimage site.
Sheen gained widespread fame through his television program “Life is Worth Living,” which debuted during the rise of television in the 1950s. Appearing in ecclesiastical vestments at a chalkboard, he delivered moral and religious lessons with a broad appeal that extended beyond Catholic audiences. The program competed successfully against popular entertainers of the era, and Sheen received an Emmy Award for his work. Church officials and supporters describe him as a pioneering figure in religious broadcasting.
The beatification process was advanced in February after years of delays when Pope Leo XIV approved the move. The approval followed the church’s determination that a medical case constituted a miracle. Bonnie Engstrom believes that prayers seeking Sheen’s intercession helped her son James, who was born without a pulse in 2010. After medical interventions and therapeutic hypothermia treatment, the child survived without major complications. Engstrom pursued a formal church inquiry into the case, which led to the miracle determination.
Sheen’s hometown of Peoria, Illinois, is preparing for the beatification with expanded museum facilities and smaller local ceremonies. Supporters from across North America and beyond are expected to attend the events. Local officials and residents view the beatification as recognition of Sheen’s spiritual significance and his connection to the region, with one city councilor noting it demonstrates the potential for holiness in ordinary people.
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